In a compassionate move to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, globally renowned music artist Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, has pledged a significant contribution of $2.5 million.
This generous donation, equivalent to four million emergency meals by The Weeknd, who is also UN World Food Programme (WFP) Goodwill Ambassador, will be channeled through his XO Humanitarian Fund, according to an announcement by WFP USA.
Expressing gratitude for The Weeknd’s contribution, Corinne Fleischer, the director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe Region at WFP, encouraged others to follow his example and support the ongoing efforts. The XO Humanitarian Fund, a collaboration between The Weeknd and World Food Program USA, has been actively involved in global hunger-relief initiatives.
The Weeknd, who took on the role of Goodwill Ambassador in October 2021, has consistently championed WFP’s mission. His personal donations, combined with contributions from the XO Humanitarian Fund, have reached a total of $5 million.
The fund previously allocated $2.5 million to provide emergency food assistance for women and children in Ethiopia, with the second tranche now directed to address the urgent situation in Gaza.
Looking ahead, The Weeknd has pledged to allocate a portion of the proceeds from his After Hours ’til Dawn stadium tour in 2024 to the XO Humanitarian Fund. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, marked by Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardment, has further exacerbated the dire circumstances for Palestinians, with the collapse of a recent truce.
The Gaza health ministry reports at least 193 Palestinians killed and 650 wounded since the truce ended on Friday morning, adding to the toll of more than 15,000 Palestinian casualties since the beginning of the conflict earlier in October.
